I like the first one better as a way of summing up his idea of justice. the first one just speaks of his view of death and how he has become so accustomed to it, that he has looked at himself and faced his own mortality. then he goes on to say how death is an ordeal as in its troublesome or bothersome to kill someone or even to die. And by saying its not an expiation..he realizes, that him dying isnt solving any problems. Speaking on his idea of justice…its great, because his whole idea in the book is that for his enemies, death is not good enough because that will not atone for thier sins and what they’ve done to him. He doesnt find death justifying, other than simply having to go through the trouble of dying, he believes the penalty should be more of “an eye for eye” and that would be just. He wants to ruin thier lives and they have ruined his.

Im sorry i dont know if that made a lot of sense i read the book 5 and half years ago as well. Its my favorite book though.

the first quotation about death is a bit controversial,because the effects of seeing people die often can either make a person accept death more easily or make him more petrified about his own death,it all depends on the person.the other quotation give us the impression that perhaps monte cristo was a bit over confident about himself,and that due to his sufferings he became someone who never fogives and forgets.but if we combine both quotes ithink monte cristo was someone who would fight for justice bravely,until his last breath.you know actually i read this book around 5.5 years ago.am telling this to you from what i remember.hope it helps! but i think the second quote is the better one.